It’s been about three decades since Mechanicsburg and Cumberland Valley have been in the same classification for Pennsylvania high school field hockey, but that all changed Wednesday night with the first pass back at Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Park when history came full circle.
“We haven’t played Cumberland Valley, in like, 30 years,” Mechanicsburg Head Coach Tonya Brown said. “So, moving to this Commonwealth Division from Keystone, every night was a war. Cumberland Valley, growing up here in Mechanicsburg, was our biggest rival…and now to be able to compete with them, and actually beat them is huge in my mind.”
And, one could say that the rematch has been percolating for a long time. The game was intensely fast and physical with six cards thrown: two for Cumberland Valley and four for Mechanicsburg.
The Wildcats, scoring in the first and second quarters, have an impenetrable defense, especially on its weak side. The final score was 2-0 Mechanicsburg.
“I think it was a total team effort,” Mechanicsburg defender Kate Engle said. “Like, we all worked together, from the defense on. It was really good communication and everything. It was a great game. Our game plan for them was don’t plant, they’re really good. They’re really fast. We just delayed them. And, I mean I have a lot of confidence on my left side. Gabby Shute, I told her when to step, so it was really good.”
Before the reclassifications, Mechanicsburg was featured in the Keystone Division of the Mid-Penn Conference in District 3. They’ve been moved up to Class 3A and Commonwealth, which didn’t change for Cumberland Valley. The reclassifications occurred statewide this Fall.
In the first meeting between the two squads, the first three quarters offensively favored Mechanicsburg. They were able to pass in and pass out wide immediately looking for the through ball. The natural ebb and flow of a give and go was evident, but the pace is undeniably a new version of modern hockey – Mechanicsburg 2.0.
The team has the same vibe as the 2022 Wildcats, which won their first PIAA Class 2A state championship. However, the ‘Cats, they’re now in Class 3A facing the likes of Lower Dauphin, Cumberland Valley, and potentially later in the season, Manheim Township, Emmaus, and Wilson.
Mechanicsburg, this season, has a not so quietly kept secret and that’s the double trouble found in the Olivetti twins – the best kind of trouble. They’re unrelenting, and in fact, both scored a goal. Talk about twinning.
Then there’s Cumberland Valley, who’s anchored with a top-notch goalie Katie Hume. Hume was dancing in her kickers all night long trying to fend off Mechanicsburg’s attack. Much of the night was a defensive one for the Eagles, but don’t rule out their extremely fast forwards, who were stalled in the fast lane by the ‘Cats mids and defenders.
“We came out strong and connected really well,” Mechanicsburg’s Liberty Olivetti said. “We all came out with speed…I know some of the players, Lexi Hunter, Marissa Musa, they were really talented. I play with them, in like, club. And, we just came out strong. We scored our goals in the beginning, in the first half. And, that really set the tone for us.”
With the 13 shots on goal and 17 corners, the ‘Cats tried to pounce on every opportunity. Mechanicsburg was able to stave off the Eagles transitions simply by positioning, which also led to many interceptions and continuous corner calls.
With that much talent – both teams have experience and solid players on each line – the temperature in the outdoor room was bound to go up. And, it did from intensive shots, tight stickwork, and brutal one on ones, including Mary Olivetti’s dig for one more goal with only a few seconds remaining.
Cumberland Valley perfected three fast, accurate passes down the middle of the field with under 3 minutes remaining showcasing the Eagles’ resilience. It started with a backline pass of Cassidy Brewer to Morgan Smeltz to Hayven Mumma, but ended inside the Eagles 25.
And, then it was immediately shot down the right side to Mechanicsburg’s attack 25.
Mary Olivetti charged Hume, perfected a dodge, ripped a shot, but Hume got her stick on it and the follow up went wide.
Two defensive stick stops on the endline crushed goal hopes by both teams, one from Kaia Crossley and the other from Shute.
Mechanicsburg was bottlenecked on its right side all of the fourth quarter. Mumma pulled her team’s energy up even higher trying to find a way to enter the circle, which gave the Eagles a jolt. She started the fourth pressing, but it was three quarters too late to catch up.
Hume had 10 saves.
The final was 2-0 Mechanicsburg with Liberty and Mary Olivetti scoring the goals for the ‘Cats.
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By FAN – US
